Romanoff (NZ) Rules in New Zealand 2000 Guineas

For the second year in a row, a Karaka graduate has put Pam Gerard on the top of the podium in the $700,000 Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) – and this time it was a Book 2 quinella for the Matamata trainer.

Twelve months after triumphing with Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), Gerard returned to Riccarton on Saturday and saddled Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) and Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) to fight out a pulsating photo finish.

Guineas glory went to Romanoff, who was a $75,000 purchase by Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman from Haunui Farm’s Book 2 draft at Karaka 2024. Romanoff has now had seven starts for two wins, two placings and $454,075 in stakes – more than six times his purchase price.

Those same buyers secured Guineas runner-up Affirmative Action for $115,000 from Wentwood Grange’s Book 2 draft at Karaka 2024. From four starts, Affirmative Action has recorded two wins and two placings and has earned $239,475.

Both of Gerard’s contenders for this year’s 2000 Guineas had shown their share of class during the spring – Affirmative Action with two wins including the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), and Romanoff with an eye-catching last-start run for third in the Group Two Sarten Memorial (1600m).

But Saturday’s big race became a very big challenge after a dramatic downpour and hailstorm hit Riccarton in the early part of the afternoon. The track went down to a Heavy9, and suddenly the highly talented field of three-year-olds faced a stern test of not only talent but also stamina, versatility and all of their fighting qualities. On those points, Romanoff and Affirmative Action rose above the rest of the field.

After settling in fourth and sixth respectively, Romanoff and Affirmative Action surged forward while others began to feel the pressure coming up to the home turn.

The stablemates pulled ahead of their 13 rivals down the Riccarton straight, fighting out a desperate, head-bobbing duel to the finish that Romanoff won by a nose. Affirmative Action crossed the line a length and a half in front of the late-finishing third placegetter Shoma (NZ) (Contributer), who himself was a $20,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2024.

It was a dream result that left Gerard struggling to find words.

“I don’t know if I can handle this any more, it’s just too much,” Gerard said. “They’re both really nice horses, and I think their class has shown today.

“There is no question that I was really worried about the track, and I still don’t think they liked it one bit, but on a wet day Romanoff may have had the edge – although I honestly thought the other horse had got up.

“My staff at home are just amazing. So much goes into getting here, and it is hard on a day when you get a hailstorm, and after all the work that has gone in, you think, ‘Bloody hell.’ But we managed to get away with it.

“We just have fantastic owners, including the guys from Aussie that are here and have never experienced anything like this, but they will be definitely coming back.”

Romanoff was ridden to Saturday’s big win by Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz.

“I just had one dream, which was a Group One here in New Zealand,” he said. “I won 16 in Brazil but never managed to win one in Singapore, so today I am very glad.

“It was so close, but he fought very hard through the last 100 metres.”

Romanoff was bred by Marie Leicester and is by Belardo out of Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky), who herself was a placegetter in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in 2005.

Romanoff showed bright promise as a two-year-old last season, scoring a spectacular debut win at Otaki last November and later contesting the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). But he was gelded at the conclusion of his juvenile preparation and has come back a much-improved horse at three.

Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 to 29 January – an iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand.

Vendor	Haunui Farm
Purchaser	Ballymore Stables / Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Catheryne Bruggeman (Waikato)
Breeding	Belardo – Tsarina Belle
Sale	Lot 1019, Karaka 2024 Book 2, $75,000
Breeder	Mrs N M Leicester
Owner	Wally Campbell, Adrian Mathieson, Natalie Walker, Dame Sian Elias, Edwin Fletcher, Hugh Fletcher, Its A Belle Syndicate, Brent Taylor, Vince Gregan, John & Judy Angell, Robin & Pat Hale